The first IFDS Blind Match Racing World Championship has been decided on Lake Garda, Italy.

Luigi Bertanza and Sylvia Parente (ITA) claimed the prize with two straight wins in the final of the World Championship for IBSA B1 classified blind sailors. On the other course, Lucy Hodges and Toby Davey (GBR) won the International Championship for the B2 classification.

Bertanza and Parente met Anna Gamba and Enrico Sosio (ITA) in the final matches, but their experience showed through with stronger tactics and boat handling. Bertanza is a skilled helmsman who has won International Blind Match Racing Championships in past years and won the B1 division of the 2009 IFDS Blind Sailing World Championships sailed as fleet racing with sighted crew members.

In the petit final for the B1 group, Manuel Ugarte and Federico Albir (ESP) lost their first match this afternoon but came back to win the next two against Kylie Forth and Erin McGlew (AUS) to claim third place overall.

The Australians will be disappointed with their performance in the finals series, having held second place through the round robin. But Forth has only taken on the helm since 2007 and sheet-hand McGlew has been sailing for just three months. They will have the home advantage next March when the Blind Match Racing Championships move to Royal Perth Yacht Club.

It was Italy versus Great Britain for the final of the B2 classified sailors competing for an IFDS International Championship.

Lucy Hodges and Toby Davey (GBR), who are more experienced in the fleet racing format sailing with sighted crew members, have adapted to the acoustic system and shown outstanding match racing skills this week. They met local favourites Alessandro Malapiero and Elisabetta Bardella (ITA) for the final. There was plenty of close manoeuvering before the start and a few protest calls, but none were upheld.

First-time match race helmsman Pekka Rantanen (FIN) has been sailing with local crew Egidio Carantini for this event. Their opponents in the petit final were Andrea Pesaresi and Gianluca Battisti (ITA). The first match was a very tight affair, with close sailing and some close calls, but the Fin managed to claim two straight.

Presentations were held at the Bettoni Palace in Gargnano.

The IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships, 2010, Homerus Blind Match Racing have been hosted by Homerus Associazione Onlus in conjunction with the Circolo Vela Gargnano.

Sailors competing in this event must be IBSA classified B1 or B2 under the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) vision classification system. The championships were sailed in pairs of identical keelboats by a two person crew with a sighted observer on board. Three acoustic marks, each with a unique signal, set out the course. Each boat has its own sound signal that changes when on port or starboard tack.

The ability of the blind sailors to orient themselves to the race course, locate the distance, bearing and track of their opponent, and engage in close tactical sailing is simply breathtaking. For all the officials, volunteers and spectators here in Gargnano, it has provided great racing and an inspirational event.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.